Blog

5 Friday Scoops, Vol. 10

Posted October 24, 2014 by aaronbeck

1) THE EMPOWERMENT PLAN

Veronika Scott grew up as the child of addicts. She beat the odds and earned a scholarship for college. For a class assignment, Scott was instructed to create something to fulfill actual, real-world needs. She created a garment for the homeless of Detroit that served as a coat during the day and sleeping bag at night.

In the video below, Scott recalled showing off her latest prototype to the women of a homeless shelter.

“A woman started shouting, ‘We don’t need coats, we need jobs!’ ” She was completely right, because a coat is just a Band-Aid for a systemic issue. What would really have the impact would be highering the population that would need them in the first place.”

Today, Scott is the 24-year-old CEO and founder of The Empowerment Plan in Detroit. Her company hires only people from homeless shelters.

“We train them in everything from sewing and manufacturing to employment, as well as tech—whatever they need to become more independent and to be proud of their accomplishments and be proud of themselves. . . No matter what you’ve gone through you can still do a lot with what you have.”

2) CHOCOLATE FRIED CHICKEN

Snack-size candy bars, you’re dead to us. This year, we’ll be spicing up everyone’s trick-or-treat bags with some ChocoChicken. Get Adam Fleischman’s recipe here and check out Popsugar’s video take here:

3) AIR NEW ZEALAND’S EPIC SAFETY VIDEO

Because if you have to be forced to think about air safety, you may as well be treated to a Tolkien take on it.

4) THIS STILL-GLORIOUS FAKE MENU

It’s been around a while, but some things just get better with age—and some things just get better the more you re-read them. Take, for instance, this fake menu inspired by a certain TV person also named Guy. Captain Beefhearts and Reno!!!’s all around please.

5) SUN GODDESS, BY RAMSEY LEWIS

For reasons we’ll never know, this smooth soul-jazz album can be had for a measly dollar here and in most trusty record shops. We bust this thing out every fall because the LP cover’s colors jibe so beautifully with the leaves outside our windows, but also because every track is just so warm and buttery.